Covered top construction for desks and the like



April 21, 1953 N. Y. ANDERSEN COVERED TOP CONSTRUCTION FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS--SHEET 1 Filed April 50, 1947 April 21, 1953 N. Y. ANDERSEN COVERED TOP CONSTRUCTION FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed April 30, 1947 INVENTOR Andersen Patented Apr. 21, 1953 COVERED TOP CONSTRUCTION FOR DESKS AND THE LIKE Niels Yde Andersen, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to Remington Band 1110., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1947, Serial No. 744,903

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a desk or table top construction, and it has particular reference to the provision, in a desk, table, or like article of manufacture, of improved means for finishing the edges of the top and securing a plastic covering material thereon.

The tops of many, desks and tables are provided with a covering of linoleum or other plastic sheet material which extends over the entire surface, and is bound in some manner along the side edges to secure the covering in place. While a number of proposals have been made for ways to bind the covering, many of them have been found objectionable, either from the loosening of the cover, or from rough edges or large cracks which admit dirt.

The present invention contemplates improvements in constructions of this class, and proposes a top construction having a cooperating edge binding and corner construction which will firmly secure the covering, conceal all rough edges, reinforce the construction as a whole, and give a desk or table top an attractive appearance. The invention also provides an edge construction for slidably and detachably receiving and retaining an edge binding strip for the linoleum or similar top covering, with corner members detachably mounted on the corners of the top and retaining the edge binding strips in engaged position.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a corner of the top, with portions broken away to show the details of construction, and with certain portions removed for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a similar fragmentary perspective showing particularly the edge binding strips in position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of a corner block adapted to be located in the corner of the top looking at the inner portion thereof;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross-section of the corner after assembly, taken about midway along the edge, and substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the corner after assembly, taken adjacent the point of abutment of one edge with one vertical face of the curved corner piece and parallel to that face;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section through the corner, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section taken diagonally through the corner, and substantially along line 'l'! of Fig. 4.

The desk or table top construction as illustrated in these views comprises a sheet metal deck H which is pressed or otherwise formed along its margins to provide a generously curved section l2, merging into a reentrant flange [3 which is turned down to provide a terminal flange M. The material of deck II is stamped at suitable spaced intervals along reentrant flange l3 to provide depending lugs l5 whose outer faces are substantially contiguous with and tangent to curved edge [2. These lugs cooperate with other elements of the construction as hereinafter described.

The deck ll is reinforced and curved sections 12 are prepared for the reception of binding strips by means of step-shaped members [6 and IT extending along the margins on the under side of the deck. Except at the corners, each member IE or IT comprises a flange I8 parallel to and abutting deck I I, and welded thereto to integrate the members. The flange I8 merges into successive web portions l9 and 2|, at right angles to each other, while the web 2| merges into a depending flange 22 abutting the inner side of terminal flange l4, and flange 22 is bent to form a lateral flange 26 and a continuous upstanding lip 21. Contacting flanges l4 and 22 may also be welded at intervals, and flanges I B are mitred and web H) of member I! is cut away to form joint 23, providing a hollow box-like edge, defined by curved edge section l2 and adjacent portions of the deck, and the two right-angled webs!!! and 2 l A right angled portion is cut out of deck H by cuts 24 and 25 in planes perpendicular to the top and each other. Flanges 22 and 26, and lip 21 are also cut away from webs 2 I, leaving overlapping extensions 2 l6 and 211. To provide this overlapping, web IQ of member I1 is made wider than the corresponding web l9 of member I6, and the latter web l9 has a step cut out at its end to allow for the curvature of curved section 12. These cut away portions and the square corner formed by extensions 2! 6 and 2|! receive and position corner piece 4| which has an outer curved surface, as shown in Fig. 3. When corner piece 4| is inserted it joins the marginal portions of curved sections l2 and the plane area of deck H to form a substantially smooth and continuous surface.

When the foregoing parts are framed and assembled, the deck II is providedwith a cover 3| of linoleum or other suitable surfacing and finishing material, which may be cemented to the plane area of the deck in the usual manner, and which has a marginal portion 32 overlapping 3 curved section 12 and extending below reentrant flange 13. The free edge of the cover thus acts as a curtain partially covering the channel formed between flanges I3 and 26. This edge is secured by a binding strip or molding 33, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

The moldingv 33 which may be formed of plastic material, comprises in section ahead portion having an outer curved surface 34 adapted to overlie portions of lip 21 and the edge of cover 3!, a plane back 35 adapted to abut depending flange M of deck H, and upper and lower'l ongitudinal grooves 36 and 3's. The groove 35 is sufliciently wide and deep toreceive with a tight fit the free edge of cover 31; and lugs it of deck H, thus locking the molding from displacement outwardly, and pinching the edge of the cover material tightly in place. The lower groove 3? is smaller, being just large enough to engage lip 21 which is aligned with the lower edge of curved section :2. and. thereby iurther secure the molding in place. The back of the. molding is moreover advantageously provided with a slot 35, to impart some flexibility. In suitable lengths of molding are pushed into the channels formed by the flanges lit, this method of assembly being permittedby the cut-away corners of the top.- wh-ich pro the necessary clearance. Continuous lengths of molding may therefore be employedtoengage the cover 3 I. throughout its length, and to; provide a smooth and attractive appearance. As shown in Fig. 2, the ends of strips 33 project slightly into the space defined by the cut-away corners.

The previously referred to corner piece, shown in Fig. 3 and: hereinafter designated generally by the reference numeral, t, may also be fora. as a molded plastic article, having a em or ornamented and continuous; outer s adapting itself to. the curvature of edge se ion 6 2-. The inner surface of this. article has an irregular surface, shown in Fig. 3, and also in section in the remaining views. As. best illustrated in Figs. 3; and. 4, the inner vertical marginal portions of; the corner block are beveled, as indicated by reference numeral- 42, to engage the edges of the cover 3| which are. also sc-arfed to provide a blind and secure joint. The upper inner surface is provided with a centrally located projection 43. having a beveled upper edge M, so positioned as to pass. under the surface of deck H and act as a centering and locating boss. At the mid-section, the block is shaped to have a plane surface 46 positioned diagonally with. respect to the corner, and. this surface is drilled and tapped to provide a bolt hole M. The under surface of the portion at is also plane, and is so located to. rest upon the web section 2H3, which thus. provides a support for the. block.

The lower portion of the block is formed to provide right-angled faces 43 and Q8, which thereby exposes a horizontal surface i for enaging the web extension Zlt. These faces extend to the bottom surface 52. Adjacent the junction of the side edges t2 and the bottom 52, the side edges are cut back to provide sockets 53 and 54 which accommodate the projecting ends of molding strips 33, thus housing these ends and forming a concealed joint, oneach face of the corner. Notches. 55 enable the block to abut. the ends of flanges 22 and 2-5., so that, upon assembly, the entire corner region is framed in such manner asv to. minimize the possibility of dirt accumulations, and the existence of protruding edges which might snag the clothing or fingers.

Each corner block 4! is held in position by a bolt 55 which passes through apertures 51 and 58 formed in flanges E9 of members it and H, and which is secured by an angle washer 59 and a. nut, 6-1. The bolt 53 may be assembled with the block 4] prior to positioning the block, the nut 6! being taken up subsequently, thereby to to safeguard against possible injury to the corner block if the assembly were made the other way.

It will be seen that both the edge molding 33 and the corner block il may be easily positioned and that they cooperate at the corners to provide a finishing; and binding means securing the cover material and effectively protecting the joints. The construction of the deck and its connected step members I 6 and It moreover provide a strong and resistant edge binding or border construction, Well adapted to resist the stresses imposed on furniture oi this nature. Inasmuch as the invention, is. concerned with the. features previously described, it is. deemed unnecessary to. illustrate or d scribe. the omplete: pi ce of furniture, as it will be apparent that the. tops can be applied to tables, desks, cabinets, and. like articles, with equal facility.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a furniture top,v a. deck member having a flat top and. a curved dependin margin, said margin merging into. a reentrant flange. and perpendicularly epending flange. reinforcin members. secured to the under sidev of the deck parallel to the edges thereof and having downwardly and outwardly extending webs, ontwardly extending web abutting said depending flange, a second depending flange formed contiguous with the depending flange. of the deck, said second depending flange. merging into a perpendicular lateral flange underlying said. reentrant flange, said lateral. flange being turned up to. provide. a lip. underlying the. or tel. mar" gin, and lugs integrally struck out from. the reentrant flange in parallel alignment with the lip, thereby to form a reinforced edge. including a channel for the reception of a binding memher, said binding member having oppositely disposed integrally formed grooves to: receive said lugs. and said lip. respectively therein.

2. In a furniture top, a deck member formed with a downwardly curved marginal portion re inforcing members carried said deck member and dependent therefrom, said members being turned outwardly and upwardly to form a channel shaped recess below the curved portion, said marginal portion and recess being cut away at the corners of the deck, a cover over the deck and extending downwardly to overlap said. re /i355, securing strips longitudinally slidable in said recess, said securing strips being arranged with longitudinal grooves on opposite sides thereof to engage said cover and the upturned portions of said channel forming members, respectively, to retain the cover, and detachable corner blocks positioned in the cut-away corner portions of the deck to engage portions of the cover above the recess and to conceal the edges thereof the ends of the securing strips.

3. In a furniture top, a deck member formed with a plane top area and a depending curved margin, the corners of said margin being cut away at substantially right angles for a depth sufiicient to locate. the. apical intersection of the cuts in said plane. area, reinforcing members. secured to the underside of the. plane area of the deck and extending substantially the length of each side thereof, said members being formed with depending and outwardly extending webs to form a hollow box-like member beneath the deck, said members being mutually cut and overlapped to form a square corner positioned in the cut-out area of the margin, a corner block positioned in said cut-out area, said block having a curved outer surface merging with the curved margin along adjacent sides of the deck, said block being formed on its inner surface with a recess receiving said overlapped reinforcing members and with a ledge resting on the upper horizontal surface thereof.

4. In a furniture top, a deck formed with a plane upper surface and depending curved margins, said marginal portions adjacent each corner of the deck being cut away along lines disposed at right angles to each other, reinforcing and supporting members secured to the underside of the deck and extending at right angles into the area defined by said lines and between the plane upper surface and the curved margins, a cover disposed on the deck and extending downwardly over the margins, means intermediate the corners for securing the cover along the edges thereof, said cover, along said lines, being scarfed, and a corner block detachably positioned in each corner, said block having beveled vertical edges engaging the scarfed edges of the cover, a ledge adapted to rest upon said reinforcing and supporting members, and means extending from the inner face of said block and under the deck for holding said block in position.

5. In a furniture top, a deck having a plane upper surface and curved depending marginal portions, said marginal portions, adjacent the corners, being cut away to provide regions delineated by substantially right angled edges having the same radii as the said marginal portions, reinforcing members secured to the under side of the deck and extending downwardly and outwardly to the lower edges of the curved marginal portions, flanges extending inwardly from and below said curved marginal portions and being turned outwardly and upwardly to form a channel shaped recess underlying said curved marginal portions, said flanges also being cut away at the corners, a cover positioned over the deck and having edges overhanging said recess, molding strips positioned in said recess to engage and bind the edges of the cover, said molding strips projecting beyond the ends of the flanges to project into said corner regions, a block detachably mounted at each corner to fill each of said regions, said block having a curved outer surface adapted in each horizontal plane to continue the curvature of adjacent marginal portions around said corner, beveled edges adapted to overlap the edges of the margins to engage the cover therebeneath, recessed portions overlapping and concealing the projecting ends of the molding strips, and projecting portions on the inner face of the block engaging the under side of the deck and said reinforcing members to locate and support said block.

6. In a furniture top, a deck having a plane upper area merging along each side into a downwardly curved margin, channel sectioned flange members secured to said deck and underlying said curved margin to provide a recess along each side of the top for a molding strip, reinforcing members secured to the under side of the deck, each said reinforcing member having a depending vertical flange and a laterally extending flange engaging said channel sectioned flange members, said laterally extending flanges forming a square corner between adjacent sides of the deck, said curved marginand flange members being cut away at each corner, a cover for the deck having edges overhanging said recess, molding strips in the recesses to engage and secure the cover, said strips projecting beyond the flanges into the cut away corner region, and a corner block secured to each corner, said block having a curved outer surface continuing the curvature of said margins between adjacent sides of the deck, beveled edges on said block adapted to overlap and secure the edges of the cover at said corners, recessed portions overlapping and concealing the projecting ends of the molding strips, and a threaded socket on the inner face of the block for engaging a bolt, the opposite end of the bolt being engaged at a vertical depending flange of a reinforcing member.

NIELS YDE ANDERSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 343,775 Ottiwell June 15, 1886 1,310,579 Schmitz Junev 16, 1931 1,822,032 Hunter Sept. 8, 1931 1,836,911 Fitch Dec. 15, 1931 2,090,679 Jones Aug. 24, 1937 2,186,530 Jones Jan. 9, 1940 2,237,840 Nelson et al. Apr. 8, 1941 2,263,204 Clark Nov. 18, 1941 2,298,578 Madsen Oct. 13, 1942 2,316,035 Westrope Apr. 6, 1943 2,330,988 Nave Oct. 5, 1943 

